Web foot for swimmers



Aug. 18, 1925.

w. M. HAINES was FOOT FOR SWIMMERS Filed Feb. 11. 1924 mliazm INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM M. HAINES, 0F CHANUTE, KANSAS.

WEB FOOT FOR SWIMMERS.

Application filed February 11, 1924. Serial No. 692,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. HAINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chanute, in the county of Neosho and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Web Feet for Swimmers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for facili tating a person swimming in the water, the general object of the invention being to provide a collapsible member for each foot of the swimmer which will expand and offer resistance in the propulsion stroke of the leg and will collapse on the'return stroke.

Another object. of the invention'is to provide simple means for attaching the device to the foot of the swimmer.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side View showing the invention in use upon a foot.

Figure 2 is a view taken from the side opposite to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view.

Figure 4 is a view with the device collapsed. v

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2.

In these views, 1 indicates a strap which is adapted to encircle the leg of the swim-o mer midway the knee and ankle, and to which are attached the vertical straps 2, one at each side of the leg, and the fastening straps 3 are connected with these straps 2. Rods (5 are pivotally attached to the strap 1 and a waterproof sheet. 7 is attached to these rods, so as to form an umbrella-like structure. The rods are omitted on the inner From the foregoing, it will be seen that upon the propulsion stroke, the device will be expanded by the water so as to offer the maximum amount of resistance to the passage of the foot of the swimmer through the water, but upon the return stroke the device will collapse, as shown in Figure at,

so as to offer but little resistance to the passage of the foot through the water. Thus, a person may propel himself through the water with great force, due to the resistance offered by the device, one of which is adapted to be placed on each leg of the wnnmer.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

A device of the class described comprising a ring-shaped strap for encircling a swimmers leg, side straps connected with the same, means for connecting the side straps with the foot of the swimmer, a waterproof sheet having its top edge fastened to the ring-shaped strap and forming an umbrella-like device, a point of the o'utcr edge of the sheet being connected with a side strap which is adapted to engage the inner side of the leg and ribs connected with the sheet and having their upper ends pivoted to the ring-shaped strap at the front, the outer side and the rear. leaving the inner side of the device free of ribs.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature' \VILLIAM M. HAINES. 

